The Effect of Oxygen on the Corrosion of Vanadium and V-20% Ti by Liquid Lithium

The partitioning of oxygen between liquid lithium and alpha vanadium was investigated between 600 and 1000°C. At all test temperatures, the interstitial oxygen content of the vanadium was decreased by contact with lithium, even when the lithium contained excess Li₂O. Vanadium containing as much as 2200-ppm oxygen resisted lithium attack at 815°C. Additions of oxygen to the lithium did not enhance the dissolution of vanadium. The oxygen content of V—20% Ti also was decreased by exposure to lithium at 800 and 1000°C; however, the decrease at 800°C was apparently slowed by the diffusion kinetics of oxygen in the alloy.